JANUARY 27, 2007 "PAL MICKEY" Western Magic ROLL CALL

[suzct]

We are also interested in the Paradise Beach for the Cozumel Day. The reviews on trip advisor were pretty good. My husband has concerns taking our 2 kids 5 and 3 in a Mexican taxi w/ no carseats. Anyone know how long of a ride it is? Also, it says on their website they don't provide towels. Can we take them from the ship. I'd hate to pack them!
Thanks
SuzCT

 

[secretkeeper]

I just reminded Holly of this and thought perhaps I should mention it here, just in case - - -

Do NOT forget to bring the addresses of people to whom you want to send postcards or letters! I've met so many cruisers who forgot their address book. You don't need to bring an entire address book, but write down the addresses you need and bring them with you!

I made lables on the computer so I only have to take one sheet label paper and won't have to address by hand!

 

[DisGal520]

Here are a few ideas that worked for me...

Playdoh. It is amazing how much fun a little tub can be with a plastic knife and a little tiny cookie cutter. Just open a napkin or two and lay it on the floor to catch any that might fall. (My kids were playing with playdoh at this age, but that homemade stuff you can eat will work too!)

Another thing I did was get a bunch of little gifts like from the dollar store and wrap them up in wrapping paper. eg...matchbox car, playdoh, little book, travel magna doodle, box of crayons, gummy snacks etc. It takes them 5 minutes to open the package and I found that you got about 20 minutes out of each gift depending...that adds up! Depending on your flight, wrap about 3 gifts per hour. It is so much fun to open a new present every 20 minutes!

I agree that a portable DVD player is a WISE investment! If you can bum a Game Boy advance or a PSP player off someone, you can get movies for them too and they are much smaller!

CU SOON!

uh folks - there is NO wrapped packages allowed on flights anymore. So best to come up with a plan B for little ones. Sorry!

 

[msaseifert]

uh folks - there is NO wrapped packages allowed on flights anymore. So best to come up with a plan B for little ones. Sorry!

Not too sure about play doh either - maybe you better stick with crayons or markers. Also, my dd7 got a Video Now player for Christmas which was a smaller investment than a personal DVD player but still plays the Video Now discs. Each one is about 30 minutes, she got Spongebob, Scooby Doo and some otehr Nickelodeon Shows. The Video Now player is about $25 and the discs that got with it are about $5 each. That may be another less expensive option for you. Good Luck, See Ya Real Soon!

 

[binky1]

Having had tonnes of experience flying/travelling with small kids, my best piece of advice is to bring a sense of humour and lots of patience lmao: )

Seriously, the dollar store is great for lots of little things (lift the flap books, little magnadoodle, finger puppets, colouring pads, etc.). I put them all in a knapsack beforehand - don't let the kids see & then you pull a toy out whenever they start to get antsy. (That way you don't have to wrap anything)

As for playdough, while I would also love to bring some along - I don't think it'll be allowed on the plane. My oldest DD still talks about the time she was flying to her Nana's and the airport security tried to keep her Elmo (it was bendable and showed up with metal inside thru the x-ray machine)

No carseats in the Mexican taxis - but the ride to Paradise Beach is only 15 minutes. There will be lots of us going (some with little kids).

Finished my door signs - they look pretty good (if I do say so myself!)

 

[binky1]

Oh yes, don't pack towels. They will give them to you in each port as you get off the ship....

 

[VA_mouseman]

Can I ask a question that is a little off topic. Does anyone have any suggestions on travelling with young children on the airplane. We have about a 6 hour flight down to Orlando and i'm nervous about keeping my 19 month old son busy.
Also can anyone suggest a good place for dinner in Downtown Disney?

Thanks

I'll second Rainforest Cafe, but the a notable caveat that there can be a long wait to be seated. For a quick bite, try the Earl of Sandwich or Wolfgang Puck's Express (been a few years since I last tried that). For a nice sitdown meal, try the Portobello Yacht Club or Fulton's Crab House in the paddle boat.

 

[taswira]

Aurora76 - Yes, the kids would probably enjoy Rainforest Cafe at DTD more than any other restaurant. Although the wait can be long, when you go to the podium to get listed they will give you an approximate wait time. You can visit some nearby shops to amuse the kids, then return about 10 minutes before the projected wait time has ended.

If by any chance you are members of their Safari Club (good at any Rainforest Cafe anywhere and also gives you a discount), I believe you can call 24 hours ahead for a reservation. I haven't been there in awhile so maybe that has changed.

I don't recall when you said you will arrive, but if you are looking to dine at Rainforest Cafe on a Friday night, it can get very crowded and you may not get in. If at all possible, try for a very early dinner there (maybe 5 pm?) to improve your chances.

 

[binky1]

I second the Earl of Sandwich - although it's not a sit-down restaurant (i.e. waitstaff) but rather a serve yourself - the sandwiches are really yummy!! I still remember the ham/brie/dijon and that was over a year ago - can you tell that I remember my holidays through food memories!! Can't wait to get some more while onboard the Magic!!

 

[Aurora76]

Thanks so much for all the tips & suggestions, i really appreciate it!

 

[taftdb]

A question for previous cruisers - Do you notify your credit card companies you are going on a cruise so that they don't flag your account for unusual charging patterns?

Thanks

 

[DisGal520]

If by any chance you have a Disney VISA card and used it to book the trip, and plan to use it on trip, that co. will already know.

But if different card - may be good idea. When traveling in Carribean previously any charge I made showed up immediately on credit card account. Way faster than charges I made at home.

 

[NAB]

We have never had a problem with with credit cards while away. They did call once when were back and asked if we were out of the country during a certain time. Never called them.

I haven't been on this thread before but check out my ticker.......We are flying into Orlando and day early.

--

 

[brady961]

Ok this time from a week tomorrow will be on the ship preparing for the sail away party

 

[suzct]

Thanks for the info Binky1. Glad to hear I don't need towels. DH already from the amount I have out to pack already (of course I haven't told him that I know I'm not taking it all. I just need options right now ya know? )Eventualy, it will become clear what I need to take and he'll be presently surprised when the piles shrink.

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

I haven't been on this thread before but check out my ticker.......

Debbie!

Welcome to our cruise thread! You have to be on our cruise even though your ticker says 7 days and ours say 8?!

 

[NAB]

Mine says 7 because we are flying out on Friday. So I consider that the start of our holiday.

Thanks for the welcome. I saw the thread but everyone was talking about Pal Mickeys so I didn't post.

Don't have one of those.

--

 

[4warmwishers]

I just called DCL... the movies playing on our cruise are...
Cars
Deja Vu
Pirates of the caribbean 2
Santa Claus 3
Shaggy Dog
The gaurdian
Prestige
Step Up
The Wild
Arthur and the invisibles (I think she was talking quicker than I could write)

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

everyone was talking about Pal Mickeys so I didn't post.
Don't have one of those.
--

Not everyone on here has a Pal Mickey. Many people who start Cruise Meet threads like to have something to identify it with that will be catchy and meaningful. For several of us, we had talked about doing a Pal Mickey Meet on a cruise - so there it was.

Look forward to meeting those on this thread that we can find and meet up with!! (ah....I know those of us with the Pal Mickeys will be easy to spot )

 

[taswira]

I saw the thread but everyone was talking about Pal Mickeys so I didn't post.

WELCOME NAB! I'm sorry that the thread gave you the wrong impression. About a dozen of us will be bringing our Pal Mickey, and it is "A Pal Mickey Gathering at Sea" for that reason, but we have tried to (at least every once in awhile - LOL) keep mentioning that EVERYONE on this cruise is welcome to the thread and to any and all onboard meets we plan. We don't mind that you and others won't have Pal Mickey if you don't mind that we will!

You can click on "Cruiser List" from our website and see that the majority will not be bringing the little mouse. So if you would like to be added to our list just PM me your info, and feel free to show up at any meets.